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Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
Supporting Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Growing Imperative For Leaders
Karen Fonseth is Chief Executive Officer of DASCH Inc., one of Canada's largest nonprofit organizations. People with intellectual disabilities, such as those with Down syndrome or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, have historically had shorter life expectancies than the general population, but data from a Population Reference Bureau study found that the gap is shrinking. Thanks to improved medical care and early diagnoses, the study shows that between 2008 and 2017, the lifespan gap between adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those without narrowed by about two years. Because of this amazing shift in life expectancy, the number of adults with intellectual disabilities is rising. Now, anyone who lives a longer life is more susceptible to common aging issues like dementia, mobility loss, chronic illness and social isolation. But for folks with intellectual disability, that complexity can multiply. A 2022 Canadian survey reported that more than 27% of adults have a disability, and adults aged 50 to 64 with intellectual disabilities have higher rates of conditions like sarcopenia and low bone density. That means early intervention and aging‑friendly planning cannot wait. Why Leaders Must Act Now The stakes are high for organizations supporting this population. When parents age or pass away, the absence of a formal care plan can trigger crisis placements in ill‑prepared nursing homes or hospitals. Recruitment struggles and staff burnout intensify without sufficient training to reinforce continuity. Leaders must challenge the disability support sector to redesign models so they are aging‑ready and rooted in both intellectual disability expertise and geriatric best practices. To meet this need, DASCH partners with the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG). Their training framework, adopted across Canada and the U.S., focuses on dementia recognition, consistent staffing strategies and family engagement. Staff are trained to understand nonverbal cues, manage challenging behaviors and provide consistent care. On average, a person with an intellectual disability will interact with 500 to 600 different support staff throughout their life—a level of churn that deeply erodes trust and continuity. Without an intentional focus on aging and well-trained support staff, adults with intellectual disabilities risk being overlooked at the very moment they need the most support. What Disability Support Leaders Can Do Today 1. Invest in dementia‑specific training. Partner with trusted experts like NTG to equip staff and families with early detection and response skills. 2. Prioritize staff retention and consistency. Spend time and attention on onboarding and training. Hold refresher sessions at regular intervals. 3. Create integrated adult‑day and residential programs. Promoting social connection and services like nutrition, therapy, and literacy enhances quality of life and may reduce chronic illness progression. 4. Plan ahead with families. Encourage families to engage early in estate and guardianship planning. Have a clear housing strategy to avoid crisis transitions. 5. Advocate for funding that values longevity. Support public policy that recognizes the higher needs of aging adults with intellectual disabilities and that reimburses care aligned with best practices. Dignity Through Every Stage Of Life The shift in conversation is unmistakable. Two decades ago, dementia among people with intellectual disabilities was dismissed as part of their condition. Not anymore. A growing body of research and evolving support models prove informed support raises quality of life and safeguards dignity. Leaders in the disability support sector have an obligation to evolve from reactive crisis interventions to proactive, full-lifespan support, enabling people to age in place. At DASCH, we believe the people we serve deserve nothing less than care that honors their whole life story. We owe it to them and their families to build systems rooted in dignity, respect and continuity. Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify?
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Fox News
Here's what marijuana really does to the developing brain, according to a psychiatrist
The recreational use of marijuana has become more common in recent years. But some research has found that consuming cannabis could have negative effects on the body, especially the brain. A recent French study suggested that cannabis use raises the risk of heart attack and stroke more than cocaine, while a Canadian study found that dementia risk is connected to cannabis-related hospital visits in older individuals. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Daniel Amen — psychiatrist, brain imaging specialist and founder of Amen Clinics in California — confirmed that it's "clear" people who use marijuana have lower blood flow in their brain, according to decades of brain imaging performed at his clinics. These findings — along with associations between marijuana and heart disease — have been supported by other recent research. "We've been lied to that marijuana is innocuous, that marijuana is good medicine," Amen said. "And I think for some people, it can be helpful. But teenagers who use it, or people in their 20s, have a higher incidence of anxiety, depression, suicide and psychosis." For more Health articles, visit In a new study that compared people who smoked cigarettes with those who smoked marijuana, the marijuana users sustained more lung damage, he mentioned. "This is just not great for us," Amen said. Amen noted one of the "horrifying trends" he's seen is parents who smoke pot with their teens and young adults. "It just makes me think we're going the wrong way," he said. While some people may argue that alcohol is worse for the body than marijuana, Amen stressed that "neither of them are good for you." "Why would you want to consume something that makes your brain older than you are?" he asked. As the brain of a young adult is not fully developed, engaging in cannabis use can set back young people mentally, causing issues like anxiety and depression, Amen cautioned. "When you start using marijuana, alcohol or other drugs, your development gets arrested," he said. "Many people don't really appreciate how important their brain is when they're 17, 18, 21 or 23, because it really doesn't finish developing until you're 25 or 26," Amen said. "And if you hurt it early, it might not ever catch up."
New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
Robert Alvarez, 76, Dies; Called Attention to Nuclear-Waste Safety
Robert Alvarez, a self-taught expert on nuclear power, nuclear weapons and the waste that both produce who worked for decades as an activist outside the government and, during the 1990s, as a high-ranking official within it, died on July 1 in Virginia Beach, Va. He was 76. His daughter Amber Alvarez Torgerson said he died in an assisted living facility from complications of Parkinson's disease. Mr. Alvarez did not set out to become a key voice in the campaign to clean up America's vast and deadly network of nuclear-waste sites. As a young legislative aide for Senator James Abourezk, a Democrat from South Dakota, in the mid-1970s, he focused mainly on American Indian affairs. But after meeting with a group of Navajos whose decades of labor in uranium mines had left them with a raft of illnesses, he drafted a bill to extend federal medical coverage for black lung disease — a chronic problem for coal miners — and to include nuclear workers. To his surprise and frustration, his bill never even got a hearing. He was told that it would cast a negative light on the nuclear energy and weapons industries, powerful forces with extensive pull on Capitol Hill. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
